The Artists

Rita Montrosse

Painter, jeweler, teacher

I primarily paint in watercolor. I am also a jeweler who casts and fabricates fine jewelry. My paintings reflect a personal relationship with my environment either at home in the mountains of West Virginia or in my travels. My sketches and photographs provide material for my watercolor and mixed media paintings, as well as influence my jewelry designs.

In the past I have served as a secondary art teacher in the Mercer County public school system, an adjunct instructor at Concord University in Athens, WV, and an AP studio art instructor at the Center for Professional Development in Charleston, WV.

Rita is a signature member of the following:

Baltimore Watercolor Society (BWS)
Kentucky Watercolor Society (KWS)
Georgia Watercolor Society (GWS)
Southern Watercolor Society (SWS)
WV Watercolor Society (WVWS)

"Party Hardy"

Best in Show - WV Watercolor Society National Exhibition 2025

Rita Montrosse

Painter, jeweler, teacher

"Party Hardy"

Best in Show - WV Watercolor Society National Exhibition 2025

I primarily paint in watercolor. I am also a jeweler who casts and fabricates fine jewelry. My paintings reflect a personal relationship with my environment either at home in the mountains of West Virginia or in my travels. My sketches and photographs provide material for my watercolor and mixed media paintings, as well as influence my jewelry designs.

In the past I have served as a secondary art teacher in the Mercer County public school system, an adjunct instructor at Concord University in Athens, WV, and an AP studio art instructor at the Center for Professional Development in Charleston, WV.

Rita is a signature member of the following:

Baltimore Watercolor Society (BWS)
Kentucky Watercolor Society (KWS)
Georgia Watercolor Society (GWS)
Southern Watercolor Society (SWS)
WV Watercolor Society (WVWS)

Richard Shrewsbury

Director, Holler Gallery

Master of Fine Arts, Arizona State University

Richard holds a BFA in drawing from the Cleveland Institute of Art and an MFA in ceramics from Arizona State University. A prominent and acclaimed artist in our region, his works have been shown in galleries and exhibitions in places such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Richmond, and New York. Richard is a juried artist at Tamarack, WV's premier cultural and artistic center.

Artist Richard Shrewsbury with various original works

at the Life in America: Through the Decades 2025 Art Show

Richard Shrewsbury

Director, Holler Contemporary Appalachian Art Gallery

Master of Fine Arts, Arizona State University

Artist Richard Shrewsbury with various original works

at the Life in America: Through the Decades 2025 Art Show

Richard holds a BFA in drawing from the Cleveland Institute of Art and an MFA in ceramics from Arizona State University. A prominent and acclaimed artist in our region, his works have been shown in galleries and exhibitions in places such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Richmond, and New York. Richard is a juried artist at Tamarack, WV's premier cultural and artistic center.

Scott Pitt

Educational Outreach Counselor Bluefield State

University Academic Success Center

H. Scott Pitt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. He has worked in acrylics, mixed media, photography, and pen and ink for the past 30+ years. His work is rooted in expressing and organizing the shift of perception that can occur while in different emotional states.

Scott Pitt

Educational Outreach Counselor Bluefield State

University Academic Success Center

H. Scott Pitt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. He has worked in acrylics, mixed media, photography, and pen and ink for the past 31 years. His work is rooted in expressing and organizing the shift of perception that can occur while in different emotional states.

Rachael Clemens

Teacher, School of Information & Library Science at UNC at Chapel Hill

My work as a potter is rooted in traditional Appalachian functional ware using NC Stoneware - fired in an electric kiln (and occasionally in soda ash or raku or pit fired kilns). My ceramic training began at Concord University, a small school in the mountains of Southern West Virginia.

My work often reflects the beautiful mountains, hollers, and folk of that region. My ware focuses on form and function with simple glazing techniques. All my functional work is food, dishwasher, and microwave safe.

I co-own ClayWorx Studio located in downtown Pittsboro, NC. If you are in the area, come take a class with me and start your journey with clay!

Rachael Clemens

Teacher, School of Information & Library Science at UNC at Chapel Hill

My work as a potter is rooted in traditional Appalachian functional ware using NC Stoneware - fired in an electric kiln (and occasionally in soda ash or raku or pit fired kilns). My ceramic training began at Concord University, a small school in the mountains of Southern West Virginia.

My work often reflects the beautiful mountains, hollers, and folk of that region. My ware focuses on form and function with simple glazing techniques. All my functional work is food, dishwasher, and microwave safe.

I co-own ClayWorx Studio located in downtown Pittsboro, NC. If you are in the area, come take a class with me and start your journey with clay!

Joshua Haplea

Graduate; Cleveland Institute of Art

Gallery Assistant; Sandusky Cultural Center, Sandusky Ohio

Metal smith; Jabberwockyjewelry.com

Art teacher; McCormick Junior High, Huron Ohio

I have always been fascinated with the insect kingdom and the vastness of their individual elegance. Within my creations I try to emulate what makes them worthy of closer inspection and understanding.

For years I have enjoyed collecting everyday discarded objects, which I use to reflect the insects' essence. I see beauty and wonder not only in my subjects, but also in the recycled bits in which I use to assemble my constructions. In a nutshell, I am a hoarder who loves bugs.

Joshua Haplea

Graduate; Cleveland Institute of Art

Gallery Assistant; Sandusky Cultural Center, Sandusky Ohio

Metal smith; Jabberwockyjewelry.com

Art teacher; McCormick Junior High, Huron Ohio

I have always been fascinated with the insect kingdom and the vastness of their individual elegance. Within my creations I try to emulate what makes them worthy of closer inspection and understanding.

For years I have enjoyed collecting everyday discarded objects, which I use to reflect the insects' essence. I see beauty and wonder not only in my subjects, but also in the recycled bits in which I use to assemble my constructions. In a nutshell, I am a hoarder who loves bugs.

Jennifer Scott

Metal Artist

Hailing from Richlands, Virginia, Jennifer Scott creates welded creatures and other metal art.

Along with her husband Sam Scott, they come together to form Metalwork Inclinations.

Jennifer Scott

Metal Artist

Hailing from Richlands, Virginia, Jennifer Scott creates welded creatures and other metal art.

Along with her husband Sam Scott, they come together to form Metalwork Inclinations.

Jim Green

Carpenter, Artist

I've spent my life working with wood, starting as a carpenter and now focusing on wood turned art.

Burls are my preference. Opening a burl is always questionable, not knowing if I might damage the most important quality of the interior. The process is constantly evolving as the patterns in the exposed grain guide me.

I'm motivated to create works of art to be enjoyed now and by future generations.

Jim Green

Carpenter, Artist

I've spent my life working with wood, starting as a carpenter and now focusing on wood turned art.

Burls are my preference. Opening a burl is always questionable, not knowing if I might damage the most important quality of the interior. The process is constantly evolving as the patterns in the exposed grain guide me.

I'm motivated to create works of art to be enjoyed now and by future generations.

Callie Gooch

Monoprint Artist

Art is tactile to me. I have done photography, sculpture, jewelry... for as long as I can remember, the focus has been texture. Dead trees, swamps, rusted metal, broken windows, peeling paint. Texture. Monoprints are texture to me; colors and layers, embossed on a piece of paper, embellished with color.

You will feel the passion I have put into every piece, and how the images connect with the colors and overlapping shapes to make each individual creation unique. Every shape is a section carved out of thick paper which I have cut, colored, and placed in the first print, or reversed for the second print.

Callie Gooch

Monoprint Artist

Art is tactile to me. I have done photography, sculpture, jewelry... for as long as I can remember, the focus has been texture. Dead trees, swamps, rusted metal, broken windows, peeling paint. Texture. Monoprints are texture to me; colors and layers, embossed on a piece of paper, embellished with color.

You will feel the passion I have put into every piece, and how the images connect with the colors and overlapping shapes to make each individual creation unique. Every shape is a section carved out of thick paper which I have cut, colored, and placed in the first print, or reversed for the second print.

Nancy Greever Brooks

Mixed Media Artist

Nancy Brooks is the artist and founder of Sleepin' Dog Studio in Tazewell, Virginia. Nancy's work includes handmade jewelry, stunning fused glass centerpieces and more. Her works reflect her passion for anthropology, art history, and painting.

Accompanied by her loyal companions - the sleepin' dogs - Bacchus and Scotch, Nancy's creations are featured in galleries across the U.S. and in private collections around the globe. Nancy believes art is a universal language, and she's thrilled to share her work with our colorful Appalachian community.